The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-06-01
Caught in a Trap.

During the retreat of Lees army
from the field of Gettysburg to the Po-
tomac great effort was made by the
officers to prevent struggling, but it
would have required an officer to a man
to have carried out the programme sue
cessfully. We had been beaten and
felt discouraged and reckless. We
were on short rations, the weather was
dismal, and the rank and file were in
no mood to be nagged by strict disci-
pine. The command to which | be-
longed left Gettysburg about ten O'Clock
at night, and for the first three or four
hours the men were kept well in hand,
under the impression that we were
only changing positions to secure an
advantage over the federals. AS day
light broke, and we realized that we
were on the way home, squads and
individuals broke away at every oppor-
tunity to forage for breakfast. In
company with two private soldiers be-
longing in my company l slipped away
from the column about sunrise, and,
while black-looking thunderstorm
seemed close at hand, we bolted into a
piece of woods by the roadside and
then struck for highway running at
right angles and on which we could
make out three or four farm-houses.
We selected the first or nearest, and as
we entered the gate woman opened
the door and stood waiting for us to
approach. She knew we were con-
federates and asked many questions
concerning the battle, and did not
attempt to conceal the fact that she
was thorough Unionst and an ardent
hater of Jeff. Davis. " Nevertheless, F"
she added, as she turned to go in, "you
men are not altogether to blame, and
you shall have a bite to eat as soon as |
can get it." We went around to the
back door, laid aside our guns and ac-
coutrements, and had good wash-up
in the rain barrel. Then we sat down
on the grass to wait for breakfast, the
odor of which came out to us. But fol-
the suggestion of one of my comrades
everything would have gone well. Not
far from us was stone smoke-house
and through the partly open door we
could see pieces of meat hanging from
the rafters. He suggested that we
further investigate, with a view to
gobbling" some of the meat as we
left, and we got up and went straight
to the house and entered it. There
were two hams and two side-pieces
hanging up, and at the back end of the
building, which was about twelve by
twelve feet, was barrel filled with
old rag carpeting, on top of which was
setting hen. AS we came near she
began to exhibit the usual characteris-
tics, and we were having considerable
fun at her expense when the door was
shut with bang and we heard the
rattle of chain and paddock. 1t was
close, dark place, and it was minute
or two before we reached the door an(
understood the situation. We begar
to kick and shout, and presently thu
woman's voice replied: It's no ust
trying to get outl You are my prison
ers, and kicking won't do any good!
How nice and soft we talked to her, bu
it was no go. Then we swore ant
clustered, but she only laughed at us
After awhile she passed us some breat
and butter through one of the ventila.
tors, followed by cupful of water
and there we remained all day, all nigh
and up to eight O'Clock next morning
when we were turned over to the Union
cavalry" Er-rebel," in Detroit Free
Press.